THE Commission on Elections-National Capital Region (Comelec-NCR) started dismantling campaign election materials that are are public areas but not placed in common poster areas.
Among the areas where the poll body started taking down both big and small posters and tarpaulins of candidates were in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Quezon, Las Pinas and Paranaque.
These campaign posters were usually placed in lamp posts, power cables, bridges and walls and areas not declared as common poster areas. This is strictly prohibited based on the guidelines issued by the Comelec.
These steps by the Comelec were taken as the campaign period for candidates in national positions for Eleksiyon 2022 already started.
Based on Resolution No. 10730 or the implementing rules and regulations RA 9006 or the Fair Elections Act, election campaign or propaganda materials are strictly prohibited from being placed in public areas, and even in private areas, especially if there was no permission from the owner.
Included as public places are waiting sheds, sidewalks, traffic signages and other signboards, pedestrian overpasses, underpasses, flyovers, bridges, center island along roads and highways.
Posting of campaign paraphernalia is also prohibited in schools, public shrines, barangay halls, government offices, health centers, public structures and public infrastructure owned by the government, the local government units and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).
Election paraphernalia are also prohibited in vehicles such as patrol vehicles and ambulances of LGUs, GOCCs and other agencies, including public transport vehicles such as the LRT, MRT, the PNR and public public transport terminals operated by the government such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, piers and train stations.
According to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, the posters will be dismantled not just because of the the location where the election posters were placed but also those that exceeded the prescribed size allowed by law.